Fundamental Noise and Gravitational-Wave Sensitivity of the Laser Interferometer Lunar Antenna (LILA)

TL;DR

LILA explores the Moon's unique environment to develop a gravitational wave detector sensitive in the millihertz to decihertz range, leveraging lunar resonances and aiming for astrophysical and cosmological observations.

Contribution

This paper introduces the concept of LILA, a lunar-based gravitational wave detector, highlighting its potential sensitivity and innovative use of lunar resonances to detect low-frequency GWs.

Findings

LILA Pioneer can detect astrophysical GWs in the millihertz to decihertz band.

LILA Horizon aims to reach sensitivity at the cosmological horizon.

Lunar environment offers a quiet, resonant setting for GW detection.

Abstract

The Earth's Moon presents a uniquely advantageous environment for detecting astrophysical gravitational waves (GWs) in the frequency range of millihertz to decihertz. Unlike Terrestrial GW detectors, the quiet seismic environment of the Moon does not impede detection in this band; in fact the ground motions of the Moon will be excited by GWs, making the Moon a resonant amplifier at low frequencies. The Laser Interferometer Lunar Antenna (LILA) mission aims to be limited by thermal Brownian noise in its optics across most target frequencies. By taking advantage of the lunar normal mode resonances, we show that the first phase of the mission, LILA Pioneer, achieves the GW sensitivity required to study astrophysical sources through the millihertz to decihertz range. The advanced phase of the mission, LILA Horizon, would increase GW sensitivity to the cosmological horizon in this band.